Certain turbine applications - including gear-driven turbines or those in which a hydraulic control system and turbine share the same oil - require oil with anti-wear properties. Unlike many anti-wear additives that decrease the oxidation resistance of turbine oils, the proprietary wear-reducing additive in Monolec Turbine Oil provides increased protection against wear with no negative effect on the oxidation life of the oil.

Oil problems are estimated to be the cause of nearly one-fifth of all forced turbine outages, according to “A Comprehensive Guide to Industrial Turbine Lubricants,” by Afton Chemical Corp. Chief among the various mechanisms inside a turbine system that can result in degradation of the oil while in service are oxidation and thermal degradation.

Oxidation is the reaction of oxygen with a substance. When lubricants are exposed to oxygen, reactions occur that create new substances. For every 10°C (18°F) elevation in temperature, the rate of lubricant oxidation doubles, meaning at higher temperatures reactions speed up.

Thermal degradation occurs during micro-dieseling, cavitation and static discharge events, which produce very high, localized temperatures that thermally degrade the oil molecules in a lubricant.

Oxidation and thermal degradation can lead to base fluid breakdown, additive depletion, increased viscosity, varnish and sludge formation, increased acid number, increased foaming, loss of water separation properties, filter plugging, valve sticking, and rust and corrosion. Bottom line – the lubricant’s life span is shortened and equipment reliability is compromised. LE developed Endure Turbine Oil to address these problems.